Social Psychology Exam 3 Practice Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards based on the Social Psychology Unit 1-4 lecture notes, covering prejudice, attraction, prosocial behavior, and aggression.

Minimal groups paradigms

A research method using novel, arbitrary groups to study prejudice while maintaining experimental control, showing that people prefer their own group even when it lacks social meaning.

Social identity

The aspects of an individual's self-concept that are derived from their membership in specific social groups.

Basking in Reflected Glory (BIRGing)

The act of boosting self-esteem by identifying oneself with the accomplishments or positive qualities of fellow in-group members.

Cutting Off Reflected Failure (CORFing)

The act of boosting self-esteem by distancing oneself from the failures or negative qualities of fellow in-group members.

Optimal distinctiveness theory

A theory by Brewer (1991) suggesting that people seek group memberships that provide a balance between the need for belongingness and the need for uniqueness.

Outgroup homogeneity effect

The tendency to perceive members of one's own group as unique individuals while viewing members of an outgroup as being all alike.

Prejudice

A hostile or negative attitude toward people in a distinguishable group based solely on their membership in that group.

Stereotype content model

A model that categorizes prejudice based on warmth and competence, resulting in emotions such as admiration, pity, envy, and contempt or disgust.

Discrimination

The behavioral component of prejudice, defined as unjustified negative or harmful action toward someone due to their group membership.

Stereotypes

Generalizations about a group of people that can be adaptive or maladaptive, and positive or negative.

Explicit bias

Overt prejudice that is consciously held and can be measured through self-report measures like a feelings thermometer.

Implicit bias

Unconscious or unintentional prejudice that can be automatically activated and affect behavior despite nonprejudiced values.

Implicit Association Test (IAT)

A measurement tool that assesses reaction times when pairing social groups with stereotype-congruent versus stereotype-incongruent words.

Social Identity Theory

A theory stating that threats to an ingroup can lead to increased ingroup identification, favoritism, and outgroup derogation.

Realistic Conflict Theory

The theory that prejudice and hostility between groups arise from direct competition for limited, valued resources.

Stereotype threat

The concern or fear of fulfilling negative stereotypes about one's social group, which can lead to performance impairment.

Attributional ambiguity

The uncertainty experienced by members of stigmatized groups regarding whether social feedback is based on their personal ability or external prejudice.

Contact hypothesis

The idea that social interactions between different groups can reduce prejudice, provided certain conditions like equal status and common goals are met.

Jigsaw classroom

A desegregated classroom setting where students work in small groups and are dependent on one another to learn the material.

Propinquity

The tendency for people to form close relationships with those they encounter frequently due to physical proximity.

Mere exposure effect

The phenomenon where repeated exposure to a stimulus enhances an individual's positive attitude or liking toward that stimulus.

Self-disclosure

The voluntary sharing of personal information, thoughts, feelings, and experiences with another person to build closeness.

Reciprocal liking

The tendency for individuals to feel attracted to others who express that they like or are attracted to them.

Companionate love

Intimacy and affection for another person that is not accompanied by physiological arousal; highly valued in collectivist cultures.

Passionate love

Love characterized by intense longing and physiological arousal; more highly valued in individualistic cultures.

Triangular theory of love

A theory defining love through three components: Intimacy (bond strength), Passion (sexual motives), and Commitment (maintaining the relationship).

Secure attachment

An adult attachment style characterized by trust in others and a lack of concern regarding abandonment.

Anxious attachment

An adult attachment style where individuals worry that others will not reciprocate their desire for intimacy, often entering relationships very quickly.

Avoidant attachment

An adult attachment style where individuals have difficulty developing intimate relationships because previous attempts were rebuffed.

Amae

A Japanese relationship style involving totally passive love where one is indulged and cared for by a close other (e.g., parent or partner).

Social exchange theory

The theory that relationship satisfaction depends on perceptions of rewards/costs, the comparison level, and the comparison level for alternatives.

Investment model of commitment

A model stating that commitment depends on satisfaction, the level of investment in the relationship, and what would be lost by leaving.

Equity theory

The idea that people are happiest in relationships where the rewards and costs experienced by both parties are roughly equal.

Exchange relationships

Relationships governed by the need for equity, characterized by an equal ratio of rewards and costs.

Communal relationships

Relationships where the primary concern is being responsive to the other person's needs rather than maintaining exact equity.

Moral foundations theory

A theory suggesting our helping behavior aligns with five moral foundations: Care/harm, Fairness/reciprocity, Loyalty, Authority/Respect, and Purity/Sanctity.

Kin selection

An evolutionary strategy where individuals are more likely to help genetic relatives to increase the odds of passing on shared genes.

Norm of reciprocity

The social expectation that if we help others now, they will return the favor and help us in the future.

Empathy-altruism hypothesis

The proposition that feelings of empathy for a person in need lead to selfless giving or helping, regardless of costs to the self.

Altruism

Helping others without any benefit to the self, and sometimes even at a personal cost.

Bystander effect

The finding that the more people who witness an emergency, the less likely any single individual is to intervene.

Pluralistic ignorance

A social process where people assume others do not see a situation as an emergency, leading to a lack of intervention.

Diffusion of responsibility

A social process where a bystander's sense of responsibility to help decreases as the number of witnesses increases.

Urban overload hypothesis

The theory that people living in cities are constantly bombarded with stimulation and keep to themselves to avoid being overwhelmed.

Aggression

An act intended to harm the victim physically or psychologically, where the victim perceives the harm and it violates community norms.

Hostile aggression

Aggressive acts motivated by feelings of anger with the specific goal of causing pain.

Instrumental aggression

Aggression that is used as a means to achieve a particular purpose or goal other than just causing pain.

Challenge hypothesis

The idea that testosterone relates to aggression only when there are opportunities for reproduction.

Dual-hormone hypothesis

The idea that testosterone relates to dominance-seeking behavior only when the stress hormone, cortisol, is not elevated.

Social learning theory

The theory that people learn social behaviors, such as aggression, through the observation and imitation of others.

Culture of honor

A societal norm where men feel compelled to protect their reputation by responding to insults or threats with aggression.

Frustration-aggression hypothesis

The theory that being thwarted from reaching a goal (frustration) increases the readiness to behave aggressively.

Think–drink effect

The phenomenon where people's expectations of how alcohol will affect them influence their aggressive behavior as much as the alcohol itself.

Catharsis

The notion that "venting" anger reduces the likelihood of future aggression, though research suggests it often increases aggression instead.